Judge Orders Release of Abortion Records

A federal judge ordered the University of Michigan Health System on Friday to turn over edited abortion records for possible inclusion in a case about a law that bans a particular abortion procedure. All identifying information is to be removed. The university's lawyers said they were satisfied that patient privacy would be safeguarded.

The records are to be turned over to a federal judge in New York, who will determine whether they can be used in a case about the Partial-Birth Abortion Act. The law was passed by Congress last year but blocked by courts after advocates for abortion rights sued.

Justice Department officials say that the abortion records are central to the claims by the law's challengers, including a University of Michigan doctor, that the banned procedure is medically necessary.

The university's general counsel, Ed Goldman, said privacy protections were devised after Judge Avern Cohn of Federal District Court in Detroit said he had no choice but to compel the university to comply with the subpoena. Judge Cohn is to give the records to Judge Richard Casey in New York.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/13/politics/13ABOR.html

:mad:

to the White House, through the efforts of the Supreme Court, was to attack women the world over and remove funding from their much needed health care re their reproductive rights. It was, I think, the very first thing he did, the first executive order he gloated over and smirked over. He simply stomped on women and their right to control their families. He and his minions are determined to wreak havoc on women-and that is typical of a right wing religious bully. There is little being said in defense of women's rights--the bully bloviator and his good old Christian boys are just rideing roughshod over those who are in a weaker position. It is, really sad.I honestly do not know what is next.

used in the court case, but just the thought that the records have to be turned over at all is sickening. I hope ASSKroft's gallstones come back in full force.

going against the "will of the American people". sarcasm

There's an existing LBN thread on tis topic. Please continue discussion here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=419388

Thanks! :hi: